Text Alerts

Email Newsletters

Keep up with what's going on in your community by reading the bcrbriefs. This easy to read synopsis of today's news will be emailed directly to you Tuesday through Saturday at no charge. Sign up today!

Water well checkups urged during March 11-17

Free test kits to be available that week

March 7, 2018

PRINCETON — The Bureau County Health Department and the Bureau County Farm Bureau are partnering with the National Ground Water Awareness Association to remind residents it’s “time for your water well checkup” in support of National Ground Water Awareness Week by providing free well sampling test kits for residents of Bureau County.

Wells can provide high-quality drinking water, and about half the U.S. population receives its drinking water from wells.

During National Groundwater Awareness Week, Bureau County residents can pick up the free kits Monday, March 11, through Friday, March 17, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Bureau County Farm Bureau building in Princeton or at the health department during their regular business hours.

These test kits normally cost $15, but during March 11-17, they will be distributed for free. Please note: After that week, the kits will only be available from the health department, and they will cost $15.

After participants collect a sample, it must be mailed by overnight delivery to Springfield. Because testing is not done on the weekend, it is necessary to obtain and mail the sample on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The water sample must be received in Springfield within 30 hours of being collected. The charge for overnight delivery is approximately $10.

Results of the water samples will be sent back to the health department, where they will analyze the results and pass them along to those testing their water.

For more information about the water samples and what they are testing for, please contact the health department.